The author participated in 38 sea going expeditions including the first manned-submersible project to explore the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. This book provides a comprehensive overview of the past 45 years of sea floor exploration. It summarizes the mineralogical and petrological composition of sea floor rocks, ocean floor volcanism in relation to the geological setting and the discovery of hydrothermal activity. In addition to learning about various scientific missions and their objectives, the reader is introduced to rift zones where the sea floor is being created, as well as to fracture zones, intraplate volcanoes, and the structural setting of subduction zones
Until a few decades ago, the ocean depths were almost as mysterious and inaccessible as outer space. Oceans cover two-thirds of the earth's surface with an average depth of more than two miles--yet humans had never ventured more than a few hundred feet below the waves. One of the great scientific and archaeological feats of our time has been finally to cast light on the "eternal darkness" of the deep sea. This is the story of that achievement, told by the man who has done more than any other to make it possible: Robert Ballard. Ballard discovered the wreck of the Titanic. He led the teams that discovered hydrothermal vents and "black smokers"--cracks in the ocean floor where springs of superheated water support some of the strangest life-forms on the planet. He was a diver on the team that explored the mid-Atlantic ridge for the first time, confirming the theory of plate tectonics. Today, using a nuclear submarine from the U.S. Navy, he's exploring the ancient trade routes of the Mediterranean and the Black Sea for the remains of historic vessels and their cargo. In this book, he combines science, history, spectacular illustrations, and first-hand stories from his own expeditions in a uniquely personal account of how twentieth-century explorers have pushed back the frontiers of technology to take us into the midst of a world we could once only guess at. Ballard begins in 1930 with William Beebe and Otis Barton, pioneers of the ocean depths who made the world's first deep-sea dives in a cramped steel sphere. He introduces us to Auguste and Jacques Piccard, whose "Bathyscaph"descended in 1960 to the lowest point on the ocean floor. He reviews the celebrated advances made by Jacques Cousteau. He describes his own major discoveries--from sea-floor spreading to black smokers--as well as his technical breakthroughs, including the development of remote-operated underwater vehicles and the revolutionary search techniques that led to the discovery and exploration of the Titanic, the Nazi battleship Bismarck, ancient trading vessels, and other great ships. Readers will come away with a richer understanding of history, earth science, biology, and marine technology--and a new appreciation for the remarkable men and women who have explored some of the most remote and fascinating places on the planet.
Dive deep with Gail Gibbons as she explains the mechanics and discoveries of deep-sea exploration. The surface of the moon is more familiar to us than the deep sea of our own planet. Many oceanographers are trying to change that. To explore the deep sea, they climb into submersibles and employ Remotely Operated Vehicles to find out more about the ocean and ocean floor. In Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea, nonfiction rockstar Gail Gibbons invites readers along for a journey to the depths of the ocean. Without leaving home, readers will learn about the types of animals found at different sea levels. With her trademark combination of clearly-labeled diagrams, infographics, and accessible language, Gibbons explains the technology for exploration, and the many fascinating discoveries scientists have made in the darkest reaches of the ocean. A perfect introduction for aspiring oceanographers, marine biologists, and conservationists, this new edition has been vetted by an expert oceanographer.
Incredibly rich and realistic illustrations take readers up close to the curious creatures and plants that thrive in the vast severe habitat of the ocean's floor. Marine biologist and renowned children's book writer Sneed B. Collard III introduces children to many fascinating sea creatures–from bioluminescent fish to giant tube worms–that survive without sunlight. A history of deep-sea exploration from sonar to submersibles shows how far scientists have come in their ability to investigate these great depths. Inspire young readers to explore the possibilities of marine science.
This university-level reference work covers a range of remote sensing techniques that are useful for mapping and visualizing benthic environments on continental shelves. Chapters focus on overviews of the history and future of seafloor mapping techniques, cartographical visualisation and communication of seafloor mapping, and practical applications of new technologies. Seabed mapping is referenced by high-resolution seismic methods, sidescan sonar, multibeam bathymetry, satellite imagery, LiDAR, acoustic backscatter techniques, and soundscape ecology monitoring, use of autonomous underwater vehicles, among other methods. The wide breadth of subjects in this volume provides diversified coverage of seafloor imaging. This collection of modern seafloor mapping techniques summarizes the state of the art methods for mapping continental shelves.
"Copper, zinc, gold and silver mineralizations exist on the deep ocean floor, at great depths, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between Jan Mayen and Spitsbergen. None of these mineralizations within Norwegian jurisdiction have been thoroughly investigated yet, but they are likely to contain significant amounts of minerals and metals crucial to society and the 'Green Shift'. Should these mineralizations, which contain minerals and metals that you and I use every day, be developed and mined? The question is premature: we need to know more before we can answer it. We need to know more about the formation, location and characteristics of these potential deposits, as well as the environmental, social and financial consequences of potential extraction. We need to evaluate mining alternatives and how to process the extracted ore. How should we answer this question? The ultimate decisions will be determined politically, and knowledge will be the defining factor. Knowledge gained from proper mineral resource management. Quantifying the Unknown sets out to estimate the amount of minerals and metals on the deep ocean floor along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, in particular, copper, zinc, gold and silver contained in so-called 'seafloor massive sulphide deposits'. These deposits are modern analogues of those mined worldwide on land today. The method used to quantify the amounts of these resources is known as 'play analysis'. It shares aspects of methodologies used on land for similar purposes and has been employed extensively to assess untapped petroleum resources on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Play analysis enables a quantification of the potential as well as associated uncertainty. The potential is large, but the uncertainty is also significant. Whether and how this potential is realized remains to be seen." This work was published by Saint Philip Street Press pursuant to a Creative Commons license permitting commercial use. All rights not granted by the work's license are retained by the author or authors.
Characterizing the seabed : a geoscience perspective / Alvar Braathen and Harald Brekke -- Deep-sea ecosystems : biodiversity and anthropogenic impacts / Eva Ramirez-Llodra -- A short human history of the ocean floor / Håkon With Andersen -- Setting maritime limits and boundaries : experiences from Norway / Harald Brekke -- The seabed in the high north : how to address conflicts? / Alexander S. Skaridov -- Current human impact on Antarctic seabed environment and international law / Y.E. Brazovskaya and G.F. Ruchkina -- Commercial mining activities in the deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction : the international legal framework / Joanna Dingwall -- Framework legislation for commercial activities in the area / Erik Røsæg -- Maritime security and deep seabed beyond national jurisdiction / Edwin Egede -- The rights to genetic resources beyond national jurisdiction : challenges for the ongoing negotiations at the United Nations / Tullio Scovazzi -- Marine genetic resources : a practical legal approach to stimulate research, conservation and benefit sharing / Morten Walløe Tvedt -- Deep-sea bottom fisheries and the protection of seabed ecosystems : problems, progress and prospects / Richard Caddell -- Review of national legislations applicable to seabed mineral resources exploitation / Saul Roux and Catherine Horsfield -- European Union law and the seabed / Finn Arnesen, Rosa Greaves, and Alla Pozdnakova -- China's domestic law on the exploration and development of resources in deep seabed areas / Chelsea Zhaoxi Chen -- Implementation of article 82 of the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea : the challenge for Canada / Aldo Chircop -- The use of sub-seabed transboundary geological formations for the disposal of carbon dioxide / Nigel Bankes -- Decommissioning of offshore installations : a fragmented and ineffective international regulatory framework / Seline Trevisanut -- Re-using (nearly) depleted oil and gas fields in the North Sea for CO2 storage : seizing or missing a window of opportunity? / Martha M. Roggenkamp -- International investment law and the regulation of the seabed / James Harrison -- Navigating legal barriers to mortgaging energy installations at sea : the case of the North Sea and the Netherlands / Jaap J.A. Waverijn -- Crossing the sectoral divide : modern environmental law tools for addressing conflicting uses on the seabed / Rosemary Rayfuse -- Commercial arrangements and liability for crossing pipelines, power cables and telecom cables (connectors) on the seabed / Lars Olav Askheim -- Balancing competing interests when building marine energy infrastructures : the case of the nord stream pipelines / David Langlet -- Liability and compensation for activities in the area / Kristoffer Svendsen.
Ocean science connects a global community of scientists in many disciplines - physics, chemistry, biology, geology and geophysics. New observational and computational technologies are transforming the ability of scientists to study the global ocean with a more integrated and dynamic approach. This enhanced understanding of the ocean is becoming ever more important in an economically and geopolitically connected world, and contributes vital information to policy and decision makers charged with addressing societal interests in the ocean. Science provides the knowledge necessary to realize the benefits and manage the risks of the ocean. Comprehensive understanding of the global ocean is fundamental to forecasting and managing risks from severe storms, adapting to the impacts of climate change, and managing ocean resources. In the United States, the National Science Foundation (NSF) is the primary funder of the basic research which underlies advances in our understanding of the ocean. Sea Change addresses the strategic investments necessary at NSF to ensure a robust ocean scientific enterprise over the next decade. This survey provides guidance from the ocean sciences community on research and facilities priorities for the coming decade and makes recommendations for funding priorities.
